Values Education
At Stepping Stones we have four core values.
Respect
Kindness
Trust
Tolerance
At Stepping Stones we pride ourselves on our Values Education which is embedded throughout the whole curriculum. During a child’s education with us we teach them our core values and 15 additional values are focused on throughout the year. Each week we focus on one (or two) of the values. It is introduced through circle time and teachers then follow up with a values session weekly. All staff promote use of values language and recognise the children for showing the values at different times through the school day.
Our daily meeting allows opportunities for peers to make nominations and acknowledge how other children have demonstrated the value. This promotes positivity, appreciation and acknowledges everyone’s achievements.
We encourage our wider community such as passenger assistants and taxi drivers to be part of the nomination process and send us notes that tell us how the children have shown the value on pupil transport.
Parents receive a half termly values newsletter outlining the values we will be exploring that term. The whole school weekly newsletter that is circulated to parents outlines the value of the week and gives examples of what parents can follow up at home. We love to receive nominations from home, and these are celebrated in our daily meetings.
In accordance with The Department for Education guidance we actively promote British values to ensure our pupils leave school prepared for life in modern Britain. As well as referencing British Values through our SEMH learning, each half term a discreet British Values lesson is delivered and by the end of the year each class will have completed a programme of study that covers each of the Fundamental British Values.
We recognise the multi-cultural, multi-faith and ever-changing nature of the United Kingdom. Pupils are encouraged to regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with respect and tolerance and understand that while different people may hold different views about what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, all people living in England are subject to its law.
At Stepping Stones we understand the Fundamental British Values as:
Democracy: The right to vote and have your say in how our country and local area is run.
Individual Liberty: The freedom to believe what you want and act as you like within the laws of our country.
The Rule of Law: All people should follow the laws in Britain. These laws are designed to protect everybody in the country.
Mutual Respect: That two people, no matter how different they are, can live harmoniously in the same society.
Tolerance of Others: To have a fair attitude towards people whose opinions, beliefs, practices, racial or ethnic background, differ from your own.
We also understand the vital role we have in ensuring that groups or individuals within the school are not subjected to intimidation or radicalisation by those wishing to unduly, or illegally, influence them.
Ways We Explore Our British Values
Democracy:
Democracy is embedded at the school. Children are always listened to by adults and are taught to listen carefully and with concern to each other, respecting the right of every individual to have their opinions and voices heard. Pupils also have the opportunity to air their opinions and ideas through our Pupil Voice and regular questionnaires. Our Role Model pupils work not only to solve issues that the children raise but also have input into their curriculum and the standards of the school.
The Rule of Law:
The importance of Laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Learning about authorities such as the Police and Fire Service help reinforce this message.
Individual Liberty:
Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for our pupils to make choices safely, through provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons. Whether it be through choice of learning challenge, of how they record, of participation in our social skills opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.
Mutual Respect:
Mutual respect is at the heart of our values. Children learn that their actions have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community treat each other with respect. The children know and understand that it is expected and imperative that respect is shown to everyone, whatever differences we may have and to everything, however big or small.
Tolerance of Different Faiths and Beliefs:
Due to the size of our school Stepping Stones there is limited cultural diversity, therefore we place a great emphasis on promoting diversity with the children. Opportunities are regularly planned to address this issue either directly or through the inclusion of stories and celebrations from a variety of faiths and cultures. Our RE and PSHE teaching reinforce this. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school.
